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Best San Francisco Giants of the 2010s: 2. Buster Posey

By Joel Reuter |
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - APRIL 05: Buster Posey #28 of the San Francisco Giants looks on against the Tampa Bay Rays in the top of the seventh inning of a Major League Baseball game on Opening Day at Oracle Park on April 5, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - APRIL 05: Buster Posey #28 of the San Francisco Giants looks on against the Tampa Bay Rays in the top of the seventh inning of a Major League Baseball game on Opening Day at Oracle Park on April 5, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

One of the faces of Major League Baseball during the 2010s, Buster Posey earns the No. 2 spot on our list of the best San Francisco Giants players of the decade.

The San Francisco Giants selected Buster Posey with the No. 5 pick in the 2008 MLB draft after a standout career at Florida State University.

He hit a gaudy .463/.566/.879 with 21 doubles, 26 home runs and 93 RBI in 68 games during his junior season to win Golden Spikes Award honors and emerge as an elite prospect.

After playing just 10 games after signing, he began the 2009 season as the No. 2 prospect in the San Francisco Giants system and the No. 14 prospect in baseball, according to Baseball America.

Posey hit .325/.416/.531 with 31 doubles and 18 home runs in 115 games between High-A and Triple-A before making his MLB debut on Sept. 11, 2009.

He moved up to the No. 1 spot on the club’s farm system rankings and the No. 7 spot on the leaguewide top 100 heading into 2010 and delivered on the hype by winning NL Rookie of the Year honors and leading the team to a World Series title.

As a 23-year-old rookie, he batted .305/.357/.505 with 23 doubles, 18 home runs and 67 RBI in 443 plate appearances for a 3.9 WAR, then went 17-for-59 (.288 BA) with five RBI during the playoffs.

Two years later, he won NL MVP honors, hitting .336 to win the NL batting title while adding 39 doubles, 24 home runs and 103 RBI for a career-high 7.6 WAR.

While his production has declined in recent years, he’s still a .301/.370/.456 career hitter with 41.8 WAR over the course of his 11-year career, and a potential future Hall of Famer. On top of his NL MVP, he has four Silver Slugger Awards, one Gold Glove Award and is a six-time All-Star.

He’s under contract for two more seasons, so he’ll have time to further build his San Francisco Giants legacy, and a shift to first base could spark an offensive renaissance.

Don’t be surprised if the No. 28 is removed from circulation and eventually retired once Posey’s time with the organization and his storied career comes to a close.

Next. 3. Pablo Sandoval

Check back here regularly as we count down the 50 best San Francisco Giants of the 2010s.

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